‘How was R&AW probing…’: Congress MP after SC collegium resolution made public

The Supreme Court collegium cited letters from Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) to highlight the objections to the recommendation approving the name of senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal as a constitutional court judge.

Published on: Jan 20, 2023, 08:23:43 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Friday questioned the mandate of Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) after the central government reportedly objected to Supreme Court collegium decision to appoint senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal, an openly gay person, as a judge of a constitutional court in India citing a report by the intelligence agency. The Supreme Court collegium resolved to reiterate Kirpal’s name to the Union government for his appointment in the Delhi high court as a judge after rejecting the Centre’s objections against his elevation.

"From the letters of the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) dated April 11, 2019 and March 18, 2021, it appears that there are two objections to the recommendation which was made by the Collegium of this court on November 11, 2021 approving the name of Shri Saurabh Kirpal namely: (i) the partner of Shri Saurabh Kirpal is a Swiss national, and (ii) he is in an intimate relationship and is open about his sexual orientation," the apex court statement said.

The Collegium's statement lauded Kirpal for being open about his sexual orientation, saying it "goes to his credit" that he has not been surreptitious about it. The collegium further rejected the government’s apprehensions that since Kirpal’s partner is a Swiss national, it may pose a security threat.

“There is no reason to presuppose that the partner of the candidate, who is a Swiss national, would be inimically disposed to our country, since the country of his origin is a friendly nation. Many persons in high positions including present and past holders of constitutional offices have and have had spouses who are foreign Nationals. Hence, as a matter of principle, there can be no objection to the candidature of Shri Saurabh Kirpal on the ground that his partner is a foreign national,” said the resolution made public by the collegium on Thursday evening.

Referring to the court's statement, Tewari tweeted, “How was Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) investigating an Indian Citizen’s sexual orientation?Even a Swiss National in India would not fall within remit of their charter.”

“That is why from 2011 been demanding- moved 02 Private Member’s Bills to put IB, R&AW, NTRO on a statutory basis!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.